Written by PTC | Published January 28, 2016
The reason that sex and violence aren’t as effective as we thought is not that they fail to grab the public’s attention. In fact, it’s just the opposite. According to the study, images of sex and violence are so intense, they distract the viewer from the most important thing in the ad, the product.These findings only reinforce what you should already intuitively know to be true. The ads that really leave a lasting, favorable impression are seldom the tacky, hyper-sexualized ads like those run by burger chain Carl’s Jr. Those ads, in fact, have been shown to backfire. A survey by the Ameritest company found that 52% of viewers found Carl’s Jr.’s 2015 Super Bowl ad -- featuring a nearly nude model -- offensive, while almost as many said it was “irritating and annoying.” Further, 32% said they felt negatively toward the chain after watching the ad, while only 27% said they would visit Carl’s Jr. in the future. (Typically, after seeing an ad for fast food, almost 50% say they plan to go to the restaurant.) So, dear Sponsor, if you want to get the biggest bang for your Super Bowl buck, pass on the sex and violence. You’ll be doing yourself a favor, and families watching at home will thank you. Sincerely, The PTC